Transcript

PACKAGE LEAFLET

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Package leaflet: Information for the user
Calcipotriol/ Betamethasone 50 microgram/g + 0.5 mg/g ointment
calcipotriol/ betamethasone
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start using this medicine because it contains important
information for you.
Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist or nurse.
This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if
their signs of illness are the same as yours.
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side
effects not listed in this leaflet.
What is in this leaflet
1.
What Calcipotriol/ Betamethasone ointment is and what it is used for
2.
What you need to know before you use Calcipotriol/ Betamethasone ointment
3.
How to use Calcipotriol/ Betamethasone ointment
4.
Possible side effects
5.
How to store Calcipotriol/ Betamethasone ointment
6.
Contents of the pack and other information

1.

What Calcipotriol/ Betamethasone ointment is and what it is used for

Calcipotriol/ Betamethasone ointment is used on the skin to treat plaque psoriasis (psoriasis vulgaris) in
adults. Psoriasis is caused by your skin cells being produced too quickly. This causes redness, scaling and
thickness of your skin. Calcipotriol/ Betamethasone ointment contains calcipotriol and betamethasone.
Calcipotriol helps to bring the rate of skin cell growth back to normal and betamethasone acts to reduce
inflammation.
2.

What you need to know before you use Calcipotriol/ Betamethasone ointment

Do not use Calcipotriol/ Betamethasone ointment:
• If you are allergic to calcipotriol, betamethasone or any of the other ingredients of this medicine
(listed in section 6)
• If you have problems with calcium levels in the body (ask your doctor)
• If you have certain types of psoriasis: these are erythrodermic, exfoliative and pustular (ask your
doctor).
As Calcipotriol/ Betamethasone ointment contains a strong steroid do NOT use on skin affected by
• infections caused by viruses (e.g. cold sores or chicken pox)
• infections caused by a fungus (e.g. athlete’s foot or ringworm)
• infections caused by bacteria
• infections caused by parasites (e.g. scabies)
• tuberculosis (TB) or syphilis
• perioral dermatitis (red rash around the mouth)
• thin skin, easily damaged veins, stretch marks
• ichthyosis (dry skin with fish-like scales)
• acne (pimples)
• rosacea (severe flushing or redness of the skin on the face)
• ulcers or broken skin
• itching of the anus (back passage) or genitals (sex organs).

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Warnings and precautions Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before using Calcipotriol/
Betamethasone ointment
• if you are using other medicines that contain corticosteroids, as you may get side effects
• if you use this medicine for a long time and plan to stop (as there is a risk your psoriasis will get
worse or ‘flare up’ when steroids are stopped suddenly)
• if you have diabetes mellitus (diabetes), as your blood sugar/glucose level may be affected by the
steroid
• if your skin becomes infected, as you may need to stop your treatment
• if you have a certain type of psoriasis called guttate psoriasis
• if you have serious liver or kidney disease.
Special precautions
• Avoid use on more than 30 % of your body or using more than 15 grams per day
• Avoid using under bandages or dressings as it increases the absorption of the steroid
• Avoid use on large areas of damaged skin or skin folds (groin, armpits, under breasts) as it increases
the absorption of the steroid
• Avoid use on the face or genitals (sex organs) as they are very sensitive to steroids
• Avoid excessive sunbathing, excessive use of solarium and other forms of light treatment.
Children and adolescents
Calcipotriol/ Betamethasone ointment is not recommended for the use in children below the age of 18 years.
Other medicines and Calcipotriol/ Betamethasone ointment
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines.
Pregnancy, breast-feeding and fertility
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your
doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.. If your doctor has agreed that you can breastfeed, take care and do not apply Calcipotriol/ Betamethasone ointment to the breast area.
Driving and using machines
This medicine should not have any effect on your ability to drive or use machines.
Calcipotriol/ Betamethasone ointment contains butylhydroxytoluene (E321).
This may cause local skin reactions (e.g. contact dermatitis), or irritation to the eyes and mucous
membranes.
3.

How to use Calcipotriol/ Betamethasone ointment

Always use this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor
or pharmacist if you are not sure.
How to put on Calcipotriol/ Betamethasone ointment: Cutaneous use.
Instruction for proper use
• Use only on your psoriasis and do not use on skin which does not have psoriasis
• Remove the cap and check that the seal in the tube is not broken before you first use the ointment
• To break the seal, use the point in the back of the cap
• Squeeze the ointment onto a clean finger
• Rub gently into your skin to cover the affected area of psoriasis until most of the ointment has
disappeared into the skin
• Do not bandage, tightly cover or wrap the treated skin area
• Wash your hands well after using Calcipotriol/ Betamethasone ointment (unless you are using the
ointment to treat your hands). This will avoid accidentally spreading the ointment to other parts of
your body (especially the face, scalp, mouth and eyes)

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• Do not worry if some ointment accidentaly gets on normal skin near your psoriasis, but wipe it off if
it spreads too far
• In order to achieve optimal effect, it is recommended not to take a shower or bath immediately after
application of Calcipotriol/ Betamethasone ointment
• After applying the ointment avoid contact with textiles which are easily stained by grease (e.g. silk).
Duration of treatment
• Use the ointment once a day. It may be more convenient to use the ointment in the evening
• The normal initial treatment period is 4 weeks but your doctor may decide on a different treatment
period
• Your doctor may decide on repeated treatment
• Do not use more than 15 grams in one day.
If you use other calcipotriol containing medicines, the total amount of calcipotriol medicines must not
exceed 15 grams per day and the area treated should not exceed 30 % of the total body surface.
What should I expect when I use Calcipotriol/ Betamethasone ointment?
Most patients see obvious results after 2 weeks, even if the psoriasis is not yet cleared at that point.
If you have used more Calcipotriol/ Betamethasone ointment than you should
Contact your doctor if you have used more than 15 grams in one day. Excessive prolonged use of
Calcipotriol/ Betamethasone ointment may cause a problem with calcium in your blood, which usually
normalises when discontinuing treatment.
Your doctor may need to carry out blood tests to check that using too much ointment has not caused a
problem with calcium in your blood. Excessive prolonged use can also cause your adrenal glands to stop
working properly (these are found near the kidneys and produce hormones).
If you forget to use Calcipotriol/ Betamethasone ointment
Do not take a double dose to make up for forgotten individual doses.
If you stop using Calcipotriol/ Betamethasone ointment
The use of Calcipotriol/ Betamethasone ointment should be stopped as indicated by your doctor. It may be
necessary for you to stop this medicine gradually, especially if you have used it for a long time.
If you have any further questions about the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

4.

Possible side effects

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Approximately 1 in 10 people may experience side effects but most of these are reactions at the site where
the ointment has been applied and are usually mild and temporary.
Serious side effects reported for Calcipotriol/ Betamethasone ointment:
Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)
• Worsening of your psoriasis. If your psoriasis gets worse, tell your doctor as soon as possible.
Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people)
• Pustular psoriasis may occur (a red area with yellowish pustules usually on the hands or feet). If you
notice this, stop using Calcipotriol/ Betamethasone ointment and tell your doctor as soon as possible.
Serious side effects reported for the components of Calcipotriol/ Betamethasone ointment:
Calcipotriol
Serious side effects known to be caused by Calcipotriol
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• Allergic reactions with deep swelling of the face or other parts of the body such as the hands
or feet. Swelling of the mouth/throat and trouble breathing may occur. If you have an allergic
reaction, stop taking Calcipotriol/ Betamethasone ointment, tell your doctor immediately or go
to the casualty department at your nearest hospital
• Treatment with this ointment may cause the level of calcium in your blood or urine to increase
(usually when too much ointment has been used). Signs of increased calcium in blood is bone pain,
constipation, poor appetite, nausea and vomiting. This can be serious and you should contact your
doctor as soon as possible. However, when the treatment is stopped, the levels return to normal.
Betamethasone
Some serious side effects are known to be caused by betamethasone (a strong steroid), one of the ingredients
in Calcipotriol/ Betamethasone ointment. You should tell your doctor as soon as possible if any of the
serious side effects occur:
• Your adrenal glands may stop working properly. Signs are tiredness, depression and anxiety
• Cataracts (signs are cloudy and foggy vision, difficulty seeing at night and sensitivity to light) or an
increase in pressure inside the eye (signs are eye pain, red eye, decreased or cloudy vision)
• Infections (because your immune system which fights infections may be suppressed or weakened)
• Impact on the metabolic control of diabetes mellitus (if you have diabetes you may experience
fluctuations in the blood glucose levels).
These side effects are more likely to happen after long-term use, use in skin folds (e.g. groin, armpits or
under breasts), use under bandages or dressings or use on large areas of skin.
Less serious side effects reported for Calcipotriol/ Betamethasone ointment
The following less serious side effects have been reported for Calcipotriol/ Betamethasone ointment. If any
of them last a long time or cause you problems, you should tell your doctor or nurse.
Common side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)
• Itching
• Rash
• Burning sensation.
Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)
• Skin pain or irritation
• Rash with inflammation of the skin (dermatitis)
• Redness of the skin due to widening of the small blood vessels (erythema)
• Inflammation or swelling of the hair root (folliculitis)
• Changes in skin colour in the area you have used the ointment.
Not known: frequency cannot be estimated from the available data
• Rebound effect: A worsening of symptoms/psoriasis after ended treatment.
Less serious side effects reported for the components of Calcipotriol/ Betamethasone ointment
Calcipotriol
Less serious side effects known to be caused by calcipotriol include the following
• Dry skin
• Sensitivity of the skin to light resulting in a rash has also been reported
• Eczema.
If you notice the above or any other changes in your health while taking this medicine, tell your doctor.
Betamethasone
Less serious side effects caused by using betamethasone, include the following. You should tell your doctor
as soon as possible if you notice them.
• Thinning of the skin
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• Appearance of surface blood vessels or stretch marks
• Changes in hair growth
• Red rash around the mouth (perioral dermatitis)
• Skin rash with inflammation or swelling (allergic contact dermatitis)
• Shiny brown gel-filled bumps (colloid milia)
• Lightening of skin colour (depigmentation).
If any of the side effects become serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell
your doctor or pharmacist.
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects
not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the national reporting system listed in
Appendix V. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

5.

How to store Calcipotriol/ Betamethasone ointment
• Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
• Do not use Calcipotriol/ Betamethasone ointment after the expiry date, which is stated on the label
after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
• Do not store the medicine above 25°C
• The tube should be discarded 1 year after first opening. Write the date you first opened the tube in
the space provided on the carton.

Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw
away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
6.

Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. This information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States. The absence of a warning for a given drug or combination thereof in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. If you have questions about the substances you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.